Grigor Dimitrov lost to Fernando Verdasco of Spain in the second round of BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells 6-7(4) 6-4 3-6. This is the 3rd consecutive loss of the Bulgarian after defeats in the final in Rotterdam to Roger Federer and in the first round to Malek Jaziri in Dubai.

Grigor Dimitrov will play next at Miami Open starting from 19 March.

Grigor Dimitrov is the top ranked player and seed 1 of the ATP 500 tournament in Dubai from 26 February 2018. In the first round the Bulgarian will play Malek Jaziri of Tunisia, No 116, who enters the main draw of the tournament with wild card. Dimitrov and the 34-years-old Tunisian have not played any matches so far.

Potential second round opponents of Dimitrov are Robin Haase and Paolo Lorenzi. The first seeded player who Dimitrov could meet is the German Philipp Kohlscreiber, No 35. The other seeded players in Dimitrov's half of the draw are Roberto Bautista-Agut and Richard Guasquet. The second best-ranked player and leader of the second half of the draw is the Frenchman Lucas Pouille.

This will the second participation of Grigor to Dubai Duty Free Championships. The Bulgarian played in the qualifications in 2011 to reach the main draw where he lost in the first round to Richard Guasquet.

After skipping the home tournament Sofia Open Grigor Dimitrov will take part at the ATP 500 tournament in Rotterdam during the week of 12 February. The Bulgarian is seed 2 and leads the lower half of the main draw. In the first round Dimitrov will play No 41 Japanese Yuichi Sugita. The first seeded player Grigor Dimitrov could face is the Frenchman Lucas Pouille, Seed 7, No 17. The other seeded players in Grigor's half of the draw are David Goffin and Tomas Berdych. The seeded participants in the first half of the draw are Roger Federer, Alexander Zverev, Stan Wawrinka and Gilles Muller.

Last year Grigor Dimitrov reached the quarterfinals in Rotterdam where he lost to David Goffin.

Grigor Dimitrov will not defend his title of last year at Sofia Open ATP 250 tournament next week. The best Bulgarian tennis player announced in a press release to the media that he will skip the tournament.

"I and my team had to take one of the most difficult decisions: to skip this year's edition of the tournament in Sofia. Earlier today I had my last med consultation. Unfortunately I will not be at 100% ready for the next week. If I play it would lead to additional risks and complications. I will miss the Bulgarian spectators and that incredible week I had last year. I would like to thank to Sofia Open for their patience and efforts to organize a tournament of ATP level in Bulgaria. Thank you all for the support" Grigor Dimitrov wrote.

Grigor Dimitrov ended the hopes of the Australians for home champion in 42 years with win over Nick Kyrgios in the fourth round of Australian Open. Third seed Grigor Dimitrov won in the night session at Rod Laver Arena 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-4) 4-6 7-6 (7-4).

"Playing against Nick is always tricky, two weeks ago I lost against him. He was serving unbelievably, playing unbelievably," said Dimitrov. "He fought really hard and it's one of those matches you have to take any opportunity you have. Even serving for the match I felt it wasn't over. I am just glad to get through that match."

On Tuesday Grigor Dimitrov will play the Brit Kyle Edmund in the quarterfinals. Grigor defeated Edmund two weeks ago in Brisbane.

Third seed Grigor Dimitrov advanced to the last 16 of the Australian Open on Friday with a four set win over the young Russian Andrey Rublev. The Bulgarian beat the 30th seed 6-3 4-6 6-4 6-4 in three hours on Rod Laver Arena as temperatures reached 40°C.

Dimitrov made 15 double faults and 61 unforced errors with 26 errors from his otherwise strong backhand side.

“These are the most important matches for me, when things are not working and I’m able to find a way,” said Dimitrov. “I knew what to expect. I knew what I had to do. Certain things in my game are not working at the moment. I’m just pleased to win the match."

In the fourth round Grigor Dimitrov will play the Australian Nick Kyrgios whom he lost to at the semifinals Brisbane International 2 weeks ago.

World number 3 Grigor Dimitrov was pushed to the limit before scraping past 186th ranked Mackenzie McDonald of the United States who entered the main draw from the qualifications.

The Bulgarian who many experts consider as one of the favorites for the title at Australian Open, managed to win 4-6 6-2 6-4 0-6 8-6 within 3 hours and 25 minutes.

"He deserves a lot of credit. He played an unbelievable game," said Dimitrov. "I had to fight so much and in the end I think my experience helped me."

"I'm so happy with the result and the fight."

In the third round on Friday Grigor Dimitrov will play No 32 Andrey Rublev. The Russian won the only match against Dimitrov - in the second round of US Open in 2017.

Grigor Dimitrov made a strong start to his mission of Australian Open 2018 with 6-3 6-2 6-1 win over the qualifier Dennis Novak of Austria. Dimitrov needed only 1 hour and 38 to close the match.

"I just tried to be compact, focused, used every opportunity I had and tried to save some energy," said the semi-finalist of last year's edition of the tournament.

In the second round on Wednesday Grigor Dimitrov will play the American Mackenzie McDonald, No 178.

Seed 3 of the main draw Grigor Dimitrov will start again st the qualifier Dennis Novak of Austria in the first round of the first Grand Slam tournament of the year. The match of Dimitrov and Novak is 3rd in a row at Rod Laver Arena on Monday following Ostapenko - Schiavone and Venus Williams - Bencic. The first match starts 1am CET/2am Sofia time.

The potential second round opponent of Dimitrov in the second round is the winner of the match of the qualifiers Mackenzie McDonald of USA, No 178, and Elias Ymer of Sweden, No 147.

World No 3 Grigor Dimitrov saved two match points in the tie-break of the second set on his way to the win over the Australian John Millman 4-6 7-6(8) 6-3. Dimitrov complimented the play of Millman:“He couldn't have played the ball better,” said Dimitrov. “But also, at the same time, I thought I couldn't have done anything else besides what I did. I think two of the shots in the first match point were pure instinct for me. So I'm pleased with it.”

Grigor will next play the Brit Kyle Edmund in the quarterfinals on Friday.